Safeners for Herbicides

The concept of a herbicide safener – a compound that enhances the ability of a crop species to metabolize an otherwise phytotoxic substance while not negatively affecting the efficacy of the substance on target weed species – has been recognized for almost 80 years. In that time, several unique safening compounds have been identified and developed, which enable selective use of herbicides in sensitive crops. Weed control in crops responsible for most of the global caloric production, including maize, wheat, and rice, has been revolutionized by the advent of safener technology. Here, we review the discovery, commercialization, use patterns, and mechanisms of action of several economically important safener compounds as well as their subsequent interactions with select herbicides in planta .